Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland was formed May 1943 from Infanterie-Division Großdeutschland (mot).

It surrendered to British forces at the end of the war.

Holders of high awards
Holders of the Close Combat Clasp in Gold (3)
  Böddeker, Karl, 01.12.1944, Oberfeldwebel d.R., Zugführer i. d. 11./Pz.Füs.Rgt. “GD”
  Hampel, Helmut, 01.12.1944, Leutnant, Zugführer i. d. Stabs.Kp./Pz.Füs.Rgt. “GD”
  Konopka, Gerhard, 25.06.1943, Oberleutnant d.R., Fhr. II./Gren.Rgt (mot.) "GD“
  [awarded in 1943, holding this rank and position ; it is the first award of the Close Combat Clasp in Gold ; no official files available ; confirmed by Wehrpass entry (1945)]
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (5)
  Bock, Hans, 17.11.1944 (4514), Hauptmann, III./Pz.Rgt. “GD”
  Dürig, Günter, 17.11.1944 (4512), Oberleutnant, Stabs.Schwdr./Pz.Aufkl.Abt. “GD”
  Haus, Rudolf, 05.09.1944 (3811), Hauptmann, Rgt.Adj. Pz.Gren.Rgt. “GD”
  Luithle, Emil, 07.10.1943 (2211), Feldwebel, Panzerfahrer i. d. 5./Pz.Rgt. “GD”
  Sartor, Adolf, 05.02.1945 (5194), Unteroffizier, Pz.Pi.Kp. (G) 812 / Pz.Gren.Div. “GD” [unit was to get Pz.Korps-Pi.Btl 500 on 20.12.1944]
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (145)
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (7)
  Farrenberg, Walter, 22.07.1944, Oberfeldwebel, Rgt.Stabskp./Pz.Füs.Rgt. “GD”
  Gericke, Alfred, 09.09.1944, Major, Nachsch.Tr. “GD”
  Liers, Walter, 22.10.1944, Heeres-Hauptwerkmeister, I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. “GD”
  Maehl, Gerhard, 22.09.1944, Oberstabsintendant, Pz.Gren.Div. “GD”
  Priester, Ernst, 17.09.1944, Oberfeldwebel, 11./Pz.Rgt. “GD”
  Rooschüz, Dr. Hans, 22.07.1944, Stabsarzt, 1. San.Kp. “GD”
  Schwarz, Karl, 24.12.1943, Kriegswerkmeister, Stu.Gesch.Abt. “GD”
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (39)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (38, including one unofficial/unconfirmed) (31 RK + 6 EL + 1 Sw)
Holders of the Romanian Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd Class (Orden “Michael der Tapfere” III. Klasse) (2)
  Manteuffel von, Hasso, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 1072/30.05.1944, Generalleutnant, Kdr. Pz.Gren.Div. “GD”
  Langkeit, Willy, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 1072/30.05.1944, Oberst, Kdr. Pz.Rgt. “GD”

Order of battle (Sep 1943)

Staff

   Mapping Detachment

   Truck Column

   Escort Company

      Motorcycle Platoon

      Infantry Gun Platoon

      Heavy Anti-Tank Platoon

      Flak Platoon (self-propelled)

      Mixed Panzergrenadier Platoon

Großdeutschland Panzer Regiment

   2 x Battalion

      Staff

      Staff Company

      4 x Panzer Company

   Battalion

      Staff

      Staff Company

      3 x Heavy Panzer Company

Großdeutschland Panzergrenadier Regiment

   Staff

   Staff Company

      Signals Platoon

      Pioneer Platoon

      Motorcycle Platoon

   Battalion

      Staff

      3 x Company

      Heavy Company

         Staff Platoon

         Mortar Platoon

         Light Infantry Gun Platoon

   2 x Battalion

      3 x Company

      Machine Gun Company

      Heavy Company

         Pioneer Platoon

         Panzerjäger Platoon

         Infantry Gun Section

   Battalion

      Light Flak Company (self-propelled)

      Infantry Gun Company (self-propelled)

      Heavy Panzerjäger Company (self-propelled)

Großdeutschland Fusilier Regiment

   Staff

   Staff Company

      Signals Platoon

      Pioneer Platoon

      Motorcycle Platoon

   Battalion

      Staff

      3 x Company

      Heavy Company

         Staff Platoon

         Mortar Platoon

         Light Infantry Gun Platoon

   2 x Battalion

      3 x Company

      Machine Gun Company

      Heavy Company

         Pioneer Platoon

         Panzerjäger Platoon

         Infantry Gun Section

   Battalion

      Light Flak Company (self-propelled)

      Infantry Gun Company (self-propelled)

      Heavy Panzerjäger Company (self-propelled)

Großdeutschland Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion

   Staff

   Flak Platoon (self-propelled)

   Armored Car Company

   Reconnaissance Company (half-track)

   2 x Reconnaissance Company (mot)

   Heavy Company

      Pioneer Platoon

      Medium Panzerjäger Platoon

      Panzerjäger Platoon

      Infantry Gun Section

   Light Reconnaissance Column

Großdeutschland Panzerjäger Battalion

   Heavy Panzerjäger Company (self-propelled)

   2 x Heavy Panzerjäger Company (mot)

Großdeutschland Sturmgeschütz Battalion

   Staff

   Staff Battery

   Staff Company

   3 x Sturmgeschütz Battery

Großdeutschland Artillery Regiment

   Staff

   Staff Battery (mot)

   Observation Battery

   Light Flak Platoon (self-propelled)

   3 x Battalion

      Staff

      Staff Battery (mot)

      3 x Battery (mot)

   Battalion

      Staff

      Staff Battery (self-propelled)

      3 x Battery (self-propelled)

Großdeutschland Flak Battalion

   Staff

   Staff Battery

   3 x Heavy Battery

   2 x Medium Battery (self-propelled)

   Light Battery

   Light Flak Column

Großdeutschland Feldersatz Battalion

   5 x Company (mot)

Großdeutschland Pioneer Battalion (mot)

   Staff

   Pioneer Reconnaissance Platoon (mot)

   4 x Company (mot)

   Brükp K Bridging Column

   Light Pioneer Column (mot)

Großdeutschland Panzer Signals Battalion

   Staff

   Telephone Company (mot)

   Radio Company (mot)

   Light Signals Column (mot)

Supply & Support Units

III./Pz.Rgt. "GD" / Tiger-Abt.
13.12.1944 redesignated Schwere Panzer-Abteilung "Großdeutschland"

Major Kurt Gomille (? June 1943 - 25 ? April 1944)
Oberstleutnant Georg Baumunk (25 ? April 1944 - 9 Aug 1944) (WIA)
Hauptmann Hans Bock (9 Aug [Fhr.] / 18 Aug 1944 [Kdr.] - 13 Dec 1944)

9. Kp
Hauptmann Wallroth (15 Aug 1943 - ? Feb 1944) (KIA)
Oberleutnant Stadler [Fhr.] (? Feb 1944 - ??)

10. Kp
Hauptmann von Villebois (1 July 1943 - 15 Aug 1943) (WIA)
Oberleutnant Arnold [Fhr.] (15 Aug 1943 - 9 Oct 1943)
Oberleutnant Reinke (9 Oct 1943 - ??)

11. Kp
Oberleutnant Bayer (1 July 1943 - 00.00.1944)

Werkstatt-Kp
Oberleutnant Stinshoff (1 July 1943 - ??)

Notable members

Hermann Balck (Holder of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds)

Gerhard Konopka (the first soldier to receive the Close COmbat Clasp in Gold)

Rudolf Larsen (usually credited with 60+ destroyed tanks but the exact number is unknown)

Hasso von Manteuffel (Holder of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, post-war a member of the Bundestag 1953-1957 for the liberal Freie Demokratische Partei, FDP)

Horst Niemack (Post-war Brigadegeneral d.R. in the West German Bundeswehr, chairman of the German Olympic Committee, part of the German equestrian Olypmics team four times post-war)

Otto Ernst Remer (as commander of Wachbattalion Großdeutschland he played an important part in preventing the men behind the July 20 1944 attempt on Hitlers life from taking control of key buildings in Berlin, post-war he founded the neo-nazi Sozialistische Reichspartei (SRP) which was banned in 1952)

Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz ("Der Panzergraf" ("The Armour Count"), Holder of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds)

Insignia

The “GD” monogram was authorized for wear on the shoulder boards of all ranks of this unit: gold metal for officers, white metal for senior NCOs, and for ranks up to Unteroffizier the monogram was embroidered directly onto the strap in appropriate Waffenfarbe.

The “Großdeutschland” cuff title was authorized for this unit. 

Flammpanzer III

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

Oberst Willi Langkeit with his crew in front of his Panther tank

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

GD troops near Memel 1944

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

Oberst Karl Lorenz and Oberleutnant Wentzke with their men in the Ukraine January 1944

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

Published sources used

Gregory Douglas - Special uniform & cuff titles from "Grossdeutschland" units (in The Military Advisor, Vol 6 No 2)

Samuel W. Mitcham Jr - The Panzer Legions: A guide to the German Army Tank Divisions of WWII and Their Commanders

Gordon Williamson - German Army Elite Units, 1939-45

Reference material on this unit

Hans-Joachim Jung - Panzerregiment Großdeutschland im Einsatz: Der Eliteverband der deutschen Panzerwaffe

Hans-Joachim Jung - Panzer Soldiers for God, Honor and Fatherland: The History of Panzerregiment Großdeutschland

James Lucas - Panzer Elite: The Story of Nazi Germany's Crack Grossdeutschland Corps

Thomas McGuirl - God, Honor, Fatherland: A Photo History of Panzergrenadier Division Grossdeutschland on the Eastern Front 1942-1944

Alfred Novotny - The Good Soldier: From Austrian Social Democracy to Communist Captivity with a Soldier of Panzer-Grenadier Division "Grossdeutschland"

Johann Pütz, Helmuth Spaeter & Alfred Wiesemann - Die Chronik der Panzeraufklärungsabteilung Großdeutschland Band I & II

Tim Ripley - Grossdeutschland: Guderian's Eastern Front Elite

Guy Sajer - The Forgotten Soldier

Horst Scheibert - Panzer Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland

Jacek Solarz - Grossdeutschland (2 vol)

Helmuth Spaeter - The History of the Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland Vol 1-3

Helmuth Spaeter - Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland: A Pictorial History